Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-10-10
DONE WITH LAREDO.
A Mexican Mother and Her Child-Grasp-
ing Nature of a Mexican Landlord.
Especial Correspondepcel

A Mexican Mother and Her Child-Grasp-
ing Nature of a Mexican Landlord.
Especial Correspondence
LAREDO, Mexico, Sept 15.-The search
of the writer and the little woman after
the picturesque led us the first morning
after our arrival in Laredo to walk around
the streets, and peer into houses in way
which we would bitterly resent in any one
who came to our country for the same
purpose; but as it is a time IGNORED Gus
tom of American travellers, we undertook
it bravely though l must confess that !
felt half ashamed.
l did try to hire a guide, but as we
wanted to start out long before any of
those who served in that capacity were
awake or would rouse, we relied upon our
own wits and started out We found sew
eral churches, but some Of them were so
old the little woman gathered up her
skirts in disgust and declared she wouldn't
enter, and the others were so new that
she decided they were not worth seeing;
hut early us was the hour, there were
numbers of Mexican women of all classes
going into OF coming out of them, and
must confess to seeing several
that l thought beautiful, with lovely
d nix eyes, luXuriant black hair and a su.
perb walk, but my little woman declared
that their compilations were like old paste
and their forms like cows, so we did not
quite agree, and turned our steps down
narrow street where she soon uttered an
exclamation of delight. She had found
baby! 1t is astonishing what a sort Of Ma
sonic attraction a baby causes between
women. They don't know why, but so it
is, and in a moment the little Americana
was seated on rude bench holding the
baby and talking Nolapuk to it. The
mother and baby both understood, and
both smiled with Slight.
BY and by I suggested that she leave
the baby and come back to the hotel for
breakfast, but no; she was going to
stay there aid see the hoUse-the
interior; and she did. The shy
Mexican woman took her in and
set her down OH cot made Of
tresses and pillows, and with coverings Of
rcd satin, and these covered again with
that beautiful hand made lace which none
but these women can make. There were
three immense camphor wood trunks,
studded with brass nails, and from these
tie woman took out piles OF snowy linen
undergarments, all deliberately worked in
exquisite patterns, some Of the work be-
ing over foot deep.
She made the visitors understand that
these were in part done by herself and
part by her ancestors as far back as four
generations, and she delighted the little
woman by making her a present Of nap
kin with the coat Of arms of Mexico
worked in this fashion, which is done by
pulling out threads and sewing others in
hntt tn, to u
The little woman rctaliated by taking off
a gold locket and tying it around the
baby's neck
While we were talking with her-I say
talking because we certainly all did talk,
though no one but the baby seemed to
take real comfort from the conversation
We heard the most unearlhly shrieks and
screams and groans and shouts approach
ing. The little woman turned pale, but
the Mexican laughed, and as we ncnred
the door we saw an OK cart coming down
the i'll paved, dirty and deserted
street. 1t was OF the most print
tive construction and the wheels were
simply sections of logs with axles
Of wood, and these wheels turning
on those aX,es, which never heard of
grease, made that awful noise, and the
drivers shouts to his oxen added the
touch of the master.
We seized this occasion to leave and
went back to the hotel, having seen all
there was in Laredo and finding it hardly
worth the trouble. We asked for break
fast and found 1t wasn't customary But
we got some chocolate and bread, aud at
noon got some soup, some mutton stewed
with peas, some beans boiled first, then
fried in suet, and some sweetmcats which
were very good. We decided to 20 on to
Monterey that evening, and so asked for
our bill. The price was 81 day for one
person, but $3.50 apiece for two, because
1t always makes moro work for two than
one.
Laredo is a nicN enough border town,
but think one appreciates it more the
further he gets away. The type is dis
tinctly Mexican, with just enough of
Yankee about it to spoil It for Mexican
town, and not enough for good Ameri-
can one However, it may grow up with
the country if Texas develops AS it ought.
EDWARD Who.